Justin Emile Fernandez joined the United States Army in October of 2001, age 18. Enlisting as a Military Police Officer, he was sent to Fort Leonard Wood MO, for training and was assigned to the 795th Military Police Brigade Bravo Company.

In 2007, Justin was assigned his Patrol Explosives Detection Dog (PEDD), named GERON, and together they assisted the Secret Service and State Department in Explosive Detection for the UN National Convention with over 200 world leaders in New York City. In February 2008, SSgt Justin Fernandez deployed for a second combat tour in Iraq and Geron went with him. While in Iraq they supported Special Forces units out of Fort Campbell and Engineer and Calvary units out of Fort Hood.